When on April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War effectively ended. With war’s end questions arose about the proper treatment of rebellious Southerners and the “reconstruction” of Southern state governments. Against the Radical Republicans in his own party, who sought revenge and favored immediate enfranchisement of freed slaves, Lincoln offered his more measured and gradualist proposal. Lincoln’s own policy was one of immediate emancipation (via the Thirteenth Amendment) and gradual enfranchisement. Three days after delivering this address President Lincoln was assassinated.

We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart. The evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, and the surrender of the principal insurgent army, give hope of a righteous and speedy peace whose joyous expression cannot be restrained. In the midst of this, however, He, from Whom all blessings flow, must not be forgotten. A call for a national thanksgiving is being prepared, and will be duly promulgated. Nor must those whose harder part gives us the cause of rejoicing, be overlooked. Their honors must not be parcelled out with others. I myself, was near the front, and had the high pleasure of transmitting much of the good news to you; but no part of the honor, for plan or execution, is mine. To Gen[eral] Grant, his skilful officers, and brave men, all belongs. The gallant Navy stood ready, but was not in reach to take active part.